Growth That Bears Life
Why Abiding Matters More Than Improving
When Growth Becomes the Goal
Edward Abbey once observed that growth for growth’s sake is the ideology of the cancer cell. It is a sobering image—and a necessary warning.
Growth detached from purpose eventually becomes destructive.
Spiritually, growth pursued as an end often flows from ego.
It measures. It compares. It asks, How am I doing? How am I improving?
Growth for growth’s sake comes from ego.
Growth for agapē’s sake comes from Abba.
One inflates the ego.
The other enlarges the soul.
Come, Not Improve
Jesus never invited us into self-improvement. He invited us into relationship.
He invited us to come.
To abide.
Abiding is not effort. It is presence. It is where identity is received, not achieved. A branch does not strive to become something better; it remains connected.
Identity is not achieved.
It is received.
A branch receives its identity from the vine. You will never find an apple branch hanging from a grapevine. In the same way, our life in Christ flows from connection, not intention.
Life Flows, Fruit Follows
Jesus makes this unmistakably clear: “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
The branch does not generate life.
The sap is not its own.
The fruit is not forced.
The life we bear is not self-generated. The Holy Spirit carries the life of Christ into us, and fruit appears as a result—not a requirement.
Spiritual growth is not the means of improvement; it is the outcome of abiding.
Pruning Is the Language of Love
Any growth that does not serve love is lovingly removed. Even that is not our work. We are not asked to manage our own pruning.
What often feels like loss is actually care. What looks like “good growth” to us can quietly compete with the life meant to be shared.
Pruning is not punishment.
It is protection.
Punishment looks backward, asking what went wrong.
Pruning looks forward, asking what will bear life next.
A Good Abba does not prune to correct behavior.
He prunes to protect love’s purpose.
Not to diminish life.
Not to restrain growth.
But to make room for more fruit.
Fruit for a Hungry World
When growth becomes the end, we miss the mark.
But when love becomes both the means and the end,
growth finds its rightful place.
God provides the righteous growth needed to bear the fruit of His agapē love—so a hurting, dying world can taste and live.
Knowing the Father’s love is found in abiding in the One He loves.
And living by His Spirit, we bear His life together.
Reflection
Where have I measured my spiritual life by growth rather than love?
What pruning might Abba be offering as care, not correction?
What fruit of love might He be forming for others through me?
Prayer
Abba Father, keep me close to the Vine. Free me from ego-driven growth.
Let Your life flow through me for love’s sake. Amen